Ilkay Gundogan starred as Manchester City put Tottenham to the sword with a 3-0 victory at the Etihad on Saturday evening.
Gundogan and City punished an error-strewn Spurs performance as the German midfielder bagged two goals and an assist to cement the Premier League leaders’ status as title favourites.
Pep Guardiola’s hosts dominated possession and were well worth their win, though Jose Mourinho will rue yet more mistakes from his side in another deflating defeat.
Gundogan was fouled by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for a first-half penalty which Rodri converted, while Spurs were left to rue a brilliant Harry Kane free-kick which rattled the woodwork.
City went into half-time a goal up, and doubled their advantage five minutes into the restart as Gundogan finished low past Lloris. The Spurs goalkeeper had gotten a hand to Rodri’s earlier spot-kick, and again could have done better here as he could only deflect the tame effort into his own net with his foot.
With Spurs chasing the game, they were undone by a simple – though admittedly brilliant – long ball from goalkeeper Ederson, who found Gundogan over the top. The City star made a fool of Davinson Sanchez before slotting home to seal the result.
The win saw City go seven points clear at the top of the table, while Tottenham remain eighth – though the saving grace for Mourinho is that Liverpool’s earlier loss at Leicester leaves Spurs just four points off the top four with a game in hand.